"Dean, boss told you not to go down," Ted's expression was unusually calm, but there was an undeniable edge of tension in his voice."What's going on?" Dean asked, confusion evident in his tone, as he tried to move past Ted to see what was happening downstairs.Ted's brow furrowed slightly, he hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he chose to reveal the truth. "That bastard Ben showed up."Dean froze for a moment, then quickly picked up on the subtle shift in Ted's words. "That bastard"—Ted no longer referred to Benjamin Winston as "Uncle Ben." It hit Dean all at once: perhaps Ted knew more than he had let on."Is... is he here to see me?" Dean asked softly, his voice carrying a trace of numbness.Ted nodded, but quickly added, "Yeah, but don't worry, boss will protect you."Dean gave a bitter smile, as though he found little comfort in the words. He raised his gaze to meet Ted's, a questioning look in his eyes. "Will he?" he asked, the doubt unmistakable.Ted looked at him with a s
Ted seemed to sense the weight of Dean's silence and sadness. He knew that dwelling on it would get them nowhere, so he quickly decided to shift the conversation, hoping to lighten the mood a little."Hey," Ted said, reaching over to gently shake Dean's arm. With a playful grin, he turned his head, offering Dean a glimpse of the back of his own head.Dean looked at Ted in confusion, his mind oddly still, as if untouched by any real emotion. He couldn’t understand why Ted was doing this, and for a moment, all he felt was a quiet sense of bewilderment. ‘Why is he doing this all of a sudden?’When Ted noticed Dean’s lack of response, he repeated the motion, shaking his arm once more before turning his head to show the back of it again."What are you doing?" Dean couldn't help but ask, his voice laced with confusion.Ted gave a small smile, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll let you hit the back of my head. Once isn’t enough? Well, I’ll make it tw
The room was steeped in silence, broken only by the unhurried ticking of the wall clock. Dean carried a bowl of steaming porridge to Shawn’s bedside, every movement deliberate and cautious, as if a single spilled drop might shatter the fragile peace.Shawn leaned against the headboard, his brows faintly furrowed and his complexion still pallid, yet his eyes held a glimmer of warmth, a subtle hint of expectation that softened the stark lines of his face.“It’s time to eat something,” Dean murmured, his gaze fixed on the bowl in his hands, too hesitant to meet Shawn’s eyes.Shawn’s lips curved into a faint smile, and he gave a soft nod. “Alright, but today, you’ll be the one feeding me. That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?”Dean didn’t reply. Instead, he quietly scooped up a spoonful of porridge, gently blew on it to cool it, and then held it out to Shawn. Shawn opened his mouth and ate slowly, his eyes never leaving Dean’s face, a playful smile tugging at his lips.“Eat slowly—it’s hot
Shawn watched the scene before him, his emotions a mix of sadness and frustration. He leaned against the headboard, staying silent for a long while. Only when he was certain that Dean had quietly closed his eyes did he murmur to himself, “Can’t you... trust this bed just a little?”There was no response, only the soft, steady sound of Dean’s breathing coming from the small cabinet.Shawn lay there, tossing and turning, unable to find sleep. Dean’s image kept resurfacing in his mind—the sight of him curled up, head down, in that small cabinet. That vulnerable posture seemed to pierce his heart, each thought like a needle digging deeper. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he pushed the blankets off and got out of bed, moving quietly toward the cabinet.He bent down, peering through the gap in the cabinet door to look at Dean inside. The young man’s brow was furrowed even in his sleep, as if he couldn’t fully relax, not even in the comfort of rest. His head was tilted awkwardly against the cabi
A flash of anger flickered in Shawn's eyes, his lips curling into a sneer as he stepped forward. But just then, Ted tentatively took a step forward to offer help. In that split second, Leo turned and shot him a glance. It looked so sharp and so cutting; it felt like a blade forged in the depths of an abyss, piercing straight into Ted's soul. Ted froze, his breath caught in his chest. The "aura" was beyond his comprehension—an innate power, effortlessly and completely overwhelming him. He stood motionless, unable to twitch a finger, as if the air around him had grown heavy with unspoken authority.As Leo and Dr. Parker pulled Dean to safety, Damon immediately stepped forward, pulling him into a tight embrace. He could barely contain the torrent of emotions rushing within him in that instant. His arms wrapped around Dean, but suddenly, he felt an unsettling lightness—Dean had lost weight, so much so that it was painfully noticeable.He remembered that the Dean from before, though not th
Shawn scoffed, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. "Exactly," he replied coldly. "Since I took him, he’s mine.""Is that what you’re really going to do?" Damon’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, each word laced with a biting edge, radiating an unmistakable pressure."Exactly." Shawn met Damon’s gaze, unflinching, his voice so firm it was almost terrifying. "For Dean’s sake, I had even given up being the boss. No matter the cost, Dean will be mine."Chen let out a mocking laugh before speaking slowly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don’t forget, we haven’t settled the score with you yet. If we were to take your life right now, what would you have left to offer?""Don’t do anything stupid!" Ted couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped up beside Shawn, his gaze darting nervously between the others, trying to appear calm despite the tension in the air. "You’d better stay in line!" he said, his voice firm, though laced with urgency.As soon as Ted finished speaking, Leo su
That person lifted his head, his gaze languid, tinged with a hint of impatience. He rubbed his temple with a hand and murmured, "You’ve arrived. I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while."Dean froze for a moment, instinctively furrowing his brow. "Waiting for me? Didn't you say earlier that you would come to find me? How did it turn into you waiting for me?"The messenger let out a soft grunt, his tone dripping with disdain. "Do you think I can appear whenever I please? I’m a messenger of the afterlife, not your personal assistant. To find you, there are conditions. I need to wait for you to fall into a deep sleep, to answer my summons, and then I have to wait for you to make your way here slowly. I’ve been waiting for three days! Honestly, you humans are so inefficient at even managing to fall asleep. The blow you took didn’t knock you out completely—you were still conscious, barely losing consciousness."Dean paused momentarily, then couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly. Thou
Dean’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of shock appearing in his eyes. His voice trembled as he asked, "So... I ended up like this because something went wrong with your plan?"The messenger sighed and spread his hands in resignation. "Yes, we do bear some responsibility. After all, it was us who allowed your family's strange wishes to be granted, and it was us who provided you with a hope that was beyond your limits."The messenger leaned forward, his tone calm and rational. "Although none of this was our decision, I have to admit that the reborn program we provided did have some flaws."Dean opened his mouth, thinking to argue, but found himself at a loss for words. His mind was in turmoil—anger, helplessness, and a deep sense of guilt all mingling within him. He lowered his head, his voice barely audible. "So... you made a mistake, but everything else is my fault.”The messenger shot him an exasperated glare, his tone now tinged with impatience. "Stop with the self-blame! I
Sally sighed softly, as if speaking to a child who just didn’t understand. "My little Dean, that man was taken care of long ago by your four boyfriends, remember? The matter’s over, and yet you still want to dredge up the past?"Dean clenched his fists so tightly that the ropes around his wrists dug deeper into his skin, the pressure causing faint trickles of blood to surface."How can you... be so unreasonable?!" he spat, his voice strained with frustration.Sally’s smile grew even more pronounced, her expression now tinged with mockery. "Oh, dear brother, we’re in the underworld now. Unreasonable? That’s just how things are, isn't it?"Dean’s heart tightened painfully. He looked at the woman standing before him—once his closest ally, his sister—now standing firmly on the side of the enemy, speaking with such cold, merciless words."How did you become like this..." he muttered, the words heavy with disbelief and pain.But before he could even finish, he was interrupted by the mocking
He was silent for a few seconds, then finally pressed the answer button."Dean, you have to at least give me a chance to see you," Leo's voice came through the phone, tinged with frustration and a hint of urgency. "Just me. I’m coming alone."Dean knew Leo was different from the others. Leo had helped him before.After a brief hesitation, he spoke, "Twenty minutes. Meet me on the top floor."He hung up, leaned back in his chair, and exhaled deeply.Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Dean stood up to open it. Leo was standing there, looking anything but his usual carefree self. His face was uncharacteristically serious, even grim.Without a word, Leo walked straight to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a drink, and downed it in one go. Only then did he turn back to face Dean, his gaze a mixture of concern and something darker. "You really won’t give them any chance at all?"Dean leaned back on the sofa, his voice cold. "I don't want to."Leo sighed, setting his glass
He hadn’t taken it seriously at the time, but now, he never would have imagined that there would come a day when he would need such a place.The lobby manager was already waiting. As soon as he saw Dean, he immediately approached him with respectful professionalism. "Mr. Harrison, we've prepared a room for you on the top floor. You can check in at any time."Dean furrowed his brow, a hint of confusion in his expression. "How did you know I was coming?"The manager offered a polished smile. "Your friend, Leo, made the arrangements in advance. He said you might need a quiet place."Dean froze for a moment, an unexpected wave of emotion sweeping through him.Leo...That seemingly carefree, always acting nonchalant guy had taken the time to set up an escape plan for him?He had even gone so far as to ask the young lady to help and secure the quietest room on the top floor?Dean pressed his lips together, a mixture of emotions welling up inside him.He wasn’t without friends, after all.At
Among the four people he trusted the most, Shawn’s betrayal was the one he could never accept.Shawn had built his empire with his fists, carving a path through blood and corpses. And yet, he had always believed that, at the very least, Shawn was a man of honor.He was wrong.He couldn’t have been more wrong.The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the Shark Gang’s headquarters. The gang members stationed at the entrance stepped aside the moment they saw him. No one tried to stop him—Ted had already given the order."Mr. Harrison." Someone greeted him with respectful deference.Dean didn’t respond immediately. He kept walking, his pace unwavering and his demeanor cold. The lobby was filled with whispers, the members of the Shark Gang pausing in their work to glance his way. No one dared to stop him, knowing that Ted had already made arrangements.As Dean strode through the building, his eyes briefly flickered over the gathered faces, cold and indifferent. It wasn’t long before Ted
Damon’s eyes instantly filled with panic.Unable to stand still any longer, he rushed toward Dean, and no matter how much Dean struggled, he held onto him tightly. "Dean! Please, listen to me—please, let me explain!""I don’t want to hear it!" Dean fought with every ounce of strength, his voice raw. "I don’t want to hear it! I’m nothing but a disposable pawn in your grand Dragon Gang plan!"Damon’s heart clenched violently. He had never felt so frantic in his life. "Dean, please! Calm down! Just listen to me—"Seizing the moment of Damon’s panic, Dean wrenched himself free from his grip and bolted toward the door of the office.He threw all his strength into yanking the door open, and there, just outside the elevator, he saw Leo standing, looking at him in confusion."Dean?"Dean’s gaze fell on the elevator as the doors slowly slid open. He turned back one last time to look at Damon, his eyes hollow with utter despair.He looked at Leo, his voice trembling. "Leo… If you consider me yo
He frowned, a sense of unease creeping up on him. It all felt a little too coincidental, like something was off, but he couldn't quite place it.Still, no matter what, he was always used to being alone. Shrugging off the nagging feeling, he let it go for now. Breakfast first.After breakfast, Dean went as usual to sort through the boxes that had been moved from Joe's villa. There were forty boxes in total, and he had already gone through most of them. The remaining ones seemed to hold little importance. Yet, he continued his meticulous search, knowing that even in these seemingly insignificant items, there might be a clue that could shed light on either Sally or Joe.However, today’s search felt different.When his eyes landed on a box in the corner of the room, he furrowed his brow.He had no memory of this box.It appeared older than the others, its surface covered in a thin layer of dust, as though it hadn't been touched in years. Stranger still, when he tried to move it, he found
Damon’s hand was the first to rest gently on his, his voice tender but tinged with worry. "Are you okay?"Chen gently supported his shoulder, carefully studying his face. "Do you feel any discomfort?"Shawn furrowed his brow, his gaze never leaving him. "Do you need me to call a doctor?"Greg’s expression was more somber than the others, a hint of restlessness in his voice as he sighed. "Why aren't you speaking? Does something hurt again?"Dean blinked, fully realizing that he had indeed returned.The words of the messenger from the afterlife echoed in his mind—he hadn’t been taken advantage of by Joe. Yet, even so, he still needed to hear it from these four, to hear the truth from them before he could truly find peace.He cleared his throat slowly, his voice hoarse. "I... was I... slept with?"The four of them froze almost simultaneously, their expressions varying, yet all betraying a mix of anger and concern.Damon tightened his grip on his hand, looking at him with unwavering deter
Dean held his breath, barely daring to hear the words that were about to follow.Joe slowly curved his lips into a smile, and with a soft exhale, he uttered two words that sent a chill through the air."Sleep with you."As his words hung in the air, Joe didn’t hesitate for a moment. He leaned down, capturing Dean’s lips with an intensity that left no room for escape.Joe’s kiss was ruthless and commanding, carrying the unmistakable weight of someone who expected complete control, without the slightest trace of tenderness. Dean tried to pull away, but he couldn’t even summon the strength to turn his head. The pressure from Joe’s presence was overwhelming. He fought desperately, but the lingering numbness from the shock earlier still gripped his body, leaving his limbs unresponsive. Every attempt at resistance only felt more futile than the last.Joe clearly showed no concern for Dean’s resistance; if anything, he seemed to take pleasure in the desperation of his prey. With one hand, he
Dean’s face drained of color in an instant, his pupils narrowing slightly. “What?” he breathed, his voice barely a whisper.Sally shrugged casually as if discussing something insignificant. “It was me who told everyone you were an easy target, which is why they liked bullying you.”It was as though the very foundation of Dean’s world crumbled at that moment.He stared at Sally, his eyes wide with shock, anger, and disbelief. He never could have imagined that the painful memories from his childhood and adolescence, the ones that haunted him, had all come from the very sister he had trusted most.He opened his mouth, but the words were trapped in his throat as if his very vocal cords had been scorched by fire. “Why…?”Sally’s laugh was sharp, dripping with sarcasm. “Why do you look so shocked? Fine, let me tell you,” she said with a lazy smile.She narrowed her eyes slightly, a malicious curve to her lips. “I did it all to make you angry, to push you into cutting ties with me.”Dean’s f